MANILA, Philippines - At least 26 people, including children and the bus driver, were found dead on the spot after a passenger bus fell into a ravine in Capintalan village in Carranglan town in Nueva Ecija on Tuesday, April 18 at around 11 am.

Photo Credit: Twitter/Student Reporters

According to Carranglan town police chief Senior Inspector Robert de Guzman, a Leomarick Trans bus was traveling from Isabela province to Candon in Ilocos Sur when the accident occurred. He revealed that the bus was a “total wreck” after the crash.

Initial reports showed that the bus was traversing a zigzag road in Barangay Capintalan when the vehicle reportedly lost its brakes and fell down the 80-foot-deep ravine. The bus driver was reportedly overspeeding and even overtook other vehicles prior to the accident.

Twenty-one survivors were rushed to hospitals in Aritao, Bayombong and Bambang towns in Nueva Vizcaya as well as San Jose City and Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija.

Authorities are yet to release information on the identities of the victims as retrieval operations are still ongoing as of this writing.

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said those responsible for the tragedy will be held accountable.

Following the incident, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) spokesperson Atty. Aileen Lizada said they will look into the possibility of suspending two units registered under Leomarick Trans bus.

Risky Road

Carranglan Mayor Mary Abad said it wasn’t the first time that such accident happened in the area. However, she said that the recent bus accident had the most number of fatalities.